Our cat may lack a tail following a childhood accident and likes to bring us unwanted presents on a regular basis, but she is our little bundle of joy and is part of the family. We don't often blog about our pets and trust me we have a few but like any member of the family, it is just as scary when she gets injured or sick, especially as cats often hide their injuries and attempt to deal with them on their own. According to pet specialists James Wellbeloved, there are a whole host of injuries that commonly afflict cats, from broken bones and insect stings to kidney failure and tooth disease. One of the most vulnerable areas to injury for any cat is their eyes. This is hardly surprising when you think about how often they run through bushes with sharp branches or stick their nose in a bed of thorny flowers to have a good smell.

Our cat was recently diagnosed with conjunctivitis, which is the inflammation of the lining on and around the eye. The white of the eye turns red and is quite uncomfortable for your cat, so, even if they do their best to put on a brave face, you can usually tell something is wrong if they are winking, struggling to open an eye, or have discharge around the eye. You may also notice the eye begins to swell.

Sometimes the cause is easy to spot, especially if it is by a foreign object or irritant still in the eye, or a particularly nasty puncture. However, some scratches can be too small to detect, and invisible bacteria or fungi are also to blame. If you can catch the problem early enough before it does further damage, your vet will probably treat the injury by washing the eye out with a clean solution and monitoring the healing process. Unfortunately, causes can also be viral and seemingly unrelated, including being a symptom of upper respiratory illness, so indoor cats are also at risk. For viral causes, your cat will need a course of antibiotics.

Conjunctivitis is the most common eye injury in cats because it has so many differing causes. However, owners should also keep a look out for other frequently occurring eye injuries.

* A cloudy, milky eye lens is a clear indicator of a cataract and causes impaired vision;

* Excessive eye rubbing and squinting is a sign of pain and may mean your cat has glaucoma — a build up of pressure in the eye;

* A nasty fall, bump or fight can even result in cats’ eyes protruding from the socket.

Whatever the symptoms, eyes are delicate and need to be treated with care, so you should see your vet for the best advice for how to treat your cat.

Just remember, like our children, we can’t always keep our cats from injuring themselves (as much as we would like to!). So, instead of wrapping them up in cotton wool all their life, make it a habit to keep a close watch on your cat, have regular bonding time, and always check their eyes for anything unusual.

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